Horse racing: When stars shone in Salford

Once the November mists and autumnal chill set in, as they have with a vengeance, there’s an older breed of sports fan in Manchester who harks back nostalgically to the days when the town was packed with racegoers anticipating the November Handicap, writes Martha Kelner.

A healthy crowd of race-goers watching the action in Castle Irwell's heyday

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Once the November mists and autumnal chill set in, as they have with a vengeance, there’s an older breed of sports fan in Manchester who harks back nostalgically to the days when the town was packed with racegoers anticipating the November Handicap, writes Martha Kelner.

It was the flagship meeting at Castle Irwell in Salford, more commonly known as Manchester Racecourse. Racing royalty met football greats as Bobby Charlton and the Manchester United team left The Cliff training ground, across the road from the course, to go the races.

“I remember going down to the track with Bobby on occasion,” remembered Wilf McGuinness. “Most of the team went down for the November Handicap as well.

“One year we were invited into the Parade Ring by the jockey, Joe Mercer.

“Joe was urging me and the other players to ‘get on’ his mount.

“I’ll always remember the horse’s name. It was called Petit Royale. He was the jockey so you had to listen to what he was saying. We all put on a full week’s wages. We couldn’t believe it when it got left in the stalls.

“I certainly learned a lesson from that. I put a little bit on the Grand National now but that was my last big bet.”

The final contest at Manchester Racecourse was held on November 9, 1963. The Goodbye Consolation Plate was won by Fury Royal, steered across the finishing line by Lester Piggott in the shadows of the great Grandstand.

There was no consolation though, then or since, for punters who spent their days and evenings at the track, in the bar and on the rails cheering the likes of Piggott and Scobie Breasley.

Plans put forward by property developer Peel Holdings for a racecourse in Salford were most recently denied in January 2010 on noise and traffic grounds. It was the latest in a series of rejected planning applications, further disappointment for those who have always hoped the sport of kings would return to the city.

“It is a great shame a city like Manchester doesn’t have a racecourse,” said Fred Done, the Warrington-based founder of Betfred bookmakers.

“For a place of this size, with such an interest in sport, not to have a racecourse is a travesty.”

Done was an on-course bookmaker at the track in the Irwell Valley before the days of Betfred and the proliferation of high street bookmakers.

“It was a very popular racecourse, the crowds were huge and the atmosphere incredible,” said Done.

“I stood there a lot in my early career. In those days it was much harder to get a bet on than it is now.

“The on-course bookies were far busier. I remember one weekend meeting, there were seven races on both the Friday and Saturday card.

“The favourite won 13 of the 14 races and I still came away on top.”

Another familiar presence at Castle Irwell was Prince Monolulu. The West Indian tipster was hard to ignore with his colourful clothing and feathered headdress.